Obama Condemns Booing of Gay Soldier

President Obama castigated the Republican presidential candidates this weekend for staying silent when a gay soldier was booed by the audience at their debate in Orlando, Fla., on Sept. 22.

“We don't believe in the kind of smallness that says it's OK for a stage full of political leaders — one of whom could end up being the President of the United States — being silent when an American soldier is booed,” Obama said. Time reports he was speaking at a Human Rights Campaign dinner on Saturday when he made the statements in support of the troops. All of them.

Stephen Hill, a U.S. army soldier serving in Iraq, had sent a question in via YouTube, saying he had had to lie about who he was in order to serve and asking if any of the candidates planned to “circumvent any of the progress that’s been made for gay and lesbian soldiers in the military.” Some audience members booed. The question was fielded by Rick Santorum who— surprise— didn’t defend the soldier (did we mention this guy (not Santorum, the soldier) is serving in Iraq right now?) Seems none of the candidates did.

“You want to be commander-in-chief? You can start by standing up for the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States, even when it's not politically convenient,” Obama said in his weekend comments. TPM reports that plenty of others—Republicans included— registered similar disapproval of the non-response shortly after the debate.